WAG Level 9 age groups for regionals/nationals

[gymgal]

why do the eastern regions have 16 age groups when the western region L9 and all level 10 is based on 8 age groups? I realize the same total number of gymnasts advance to nationals (east/west) but was curious why east doesn't just adopt the 8 age group system to coincide with L10.

 

[bogwoppit]

Probably as there are way more 9's than 10's. Groups would be very large at 9?

 

[wandrewsjr]

Probably as there are way more 9's than 10's. Groups would be very large at 9?

Yes, age groups are bigger, but 12 qualify for Westerns per age group versus the 7 for JO's.

 

[coachmolly]

It used to be that both Easterns/Westerns did the 4 Jr. and 4 Sr. age groups for level 9. It was just in the last few years that the Eastern regions started doing the 16 age groups. I think it was done on a trial basis just to see how it went and apparently they are liking it. I'm not entirely sure why, but it could be to better balance the age groups. The same number of kids qualify to Easterns and Westerns, so it isn't a numbers thing.

 

[chalkbowl]

In 2009 & 2010 ALL 8 Regions split into the 16 age groups for Level 9 and created a team competition at Easterns/Westerns. In 2011 the Western Regions (Regions 1-4) went back to the original four Junior & four Senior groups, but I'm not totally sure why. There is a little bit more on the changes here:

http://usagym.org/PDFs/Women/Committee%20Minutes/NJOC/njoc_2010_0510.pdf
http://usagym.org/PDFs/Women/Committee Minutes/NJOC/NJOC_2008_0519.pdf